Assessing the Relevance of Practical Activities in the Teaching and Learning of Integrated Science in Juniour Secondary Schools in Gombe Metropolis of Gombe State

The study was carried out to find out the level of application of practical activities in learning science concepts in integrated science in the secondary schools in Gombe metropolis, also it sought to find out the problems that militate against the successful application of practical activities in learning science concepts. The study was guided by five research questions and one hypothesis. The study adopted a quasi experimental research design and consists of the control and experimental group in determining the effect of practical activities on students’ academic achievement, the control group received no treatment while the experimental group was taught for a period of two weeks employing practical activities.  Also a questionnaire was designed for the teachers, to get their opinion about practical activities in learning science concepts as test was administered to the students to determine the difference in the academic achievement of students taught employing practical activities and those taught with the conventional method. The SPSS was used for the statistical analysis of Pearson Product moment correlation coefficient and the study made the following findings, practical activities in learning science concepts increases students achievement in science, spurs their motivation for learning and makes learning more meaningful as theories are concretized. The study also suggested training and retraining of integrated science teachers to enable the mastery of methodologies recommended for the teaching of integrated science and application of practical activities in the learning of science concepts

Adapting Kwl Strategy for Teaching Science Practicals to Children with Special Needs for Effectives Learning

The learning of science is imperative for development in every society, and so it should not be limited to some persons. Therefore, these study sets out to use KWL strategy to adapt science teaching to the children with special needs for effective learning.The research design used in this study was the quazi experimental design specifically the pretest-posttest method. Three research questions guided the study. The sample of the study was made up of eight junior secondary one students from one public school in Lamingo, Jos plateau Nigeria. Intact class was used because there was no randomization. Base line data was collected from the class teacher on the students previous performance on the topic Classification of food. The researcher later taught same topic using KWL strategy for three weeks after which a test is given to collect data in form of scores. The data was analysed using percentage.The findings showed that KWL engaged students in the topic taught and also activated prior knowledge. KWL also enhanced good performance, thinking skill and promote curiosity.The researchers recommended that: teachers should ensure that appropriate activities be planned to take care of student needs; Government to ensure that all children have an equal right to education of any type

Blame-game politics : re-evaluating incongruent leprosy and COVID-19 policies in the Old Testament and Nigerian societies

History is rife with political actors framing policies to absolve themselves from blame. Such policies seem integral to governance. Studies have shown how the outbreak of diseases triggers policy changes from different governments, especially during the present day coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The ‘Old Testament (OT) leprosy’, particularly as found in Leviticus 13 and 14, prompted incongruent policies that occasioned the victimisation and destruction of suspected lepers’ houses. Similarly, some who breached the COVID-19 lockdown protocols in Nigeria were tortured, victimised or killed. Investigations on these overbearing regulations are linked to ignorance and autocracy on the part of policy formulators and implementers. There has likely not yet been any study examining this phenomenon from the purview of blame-game politics resulting from poor leadership decisions. This work, therefore, reviewed the government’s policy response to leprosy in the OT and the Nigerian government’s response to COVID-19 lockdown regulations with the view to assess their suitability in their specific contexts. The texts of Leviticus 13 and 14 were examined through the analytical principles of hermeneutics. Documentary method of research was also used to interpret other secondary data to draw relations between the two governments’ shifting of responsibilities and victimisation of citizens, both in the OT and Nigerian societies. Intradisciplinary and or interdisciplinary implications: This research drew on the theories in philosophy, ethics, political science, psychology and sociology. The findings indicated that policy formulators and or implementers employed blame-game constructs as response to leprosy and COVID-19 both in OT and contemporary Nigerian society, respectively.http://www.ve.org.za/index.php/VEdm2022Old Testament Studie